A historical survey of the Mass in the vernacular

By Father Randy Stice

In my column last month (“Who, what, when, where, and why: the new translation of the Roman Missal,” Sept. 6 ETC) I introduced the translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, which is due to be completed by the end of 2010. This month I would like to put this new translation in context by giving a brief history of the translation of the Mass into the vernacular.

The translation of the Mass into vernacular languages was first proposed at the Council of Trent (1545-1563), at which the Catholic Church formulated her response to the Protestant Reformation. Although the council fathers recognized “the great catechetical value contained in the celebration of the Mass” (GIRM, No. 11), they felt the timing was not opportune for such a change. They did, however, direct pastors “to give frequent instructions during the celebration of Mass,” including “some explanation of the mystery of this most holy Sacrifice” (Ecumenical Council of Trent).

The Second Vatican Council (1961-1965), recognizing “the instructive and pastoral character of the sacred liturgy” (GIRM, No. 12) and acknowledging that “the use of the vernacular language may frequently be of great advantage to the people” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 36.2), gave permission for the restricted use of the vernacular. The enthusiasm that greeted this change led the bishops and the Apostolic See to grant permission for its wider use in all liturgical celebrations (GIRM, No. 12).

Following the initial reform of the liturgy and its translation into the vernacular, “there came a period of practical experience, which necessarily required a considerable space of time” (Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, CDWDS).

In 1988 Pope John Paul II published his apostolic letter Vicesimus Quintus Annus (VQA) on the 25th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, in which he reflected on the implementation of the Council’s reform of the liturgy. With this letter, notes the CDWDS, “there began a new gradual process of evaluation, completion, and consolidation of the liturgical renewal.”

The pope included in this process the translation of the liturgy into the vernacular and the principles that should guide the translation (VQA, No. 20). In 1997 the pope asked the CDWDS to codify its work over the intervening years concerning liturgical translations.

In response to the pope’s request, the CDWDS published two instructions, intended to be read together, to guide the next stages of the liturgical renewal. The first, Varietates Legitimae (“Legitimate Differences”), was published in 1994 and dealt primarily with the question of the inculturation of the liturgy. According to this document, the translation of liturgical books is “the first significant measure of inculturation” (VL, No. 53). It summarizes the importance of language in the liturgy thus: “In liturgical celebrations its [language’s] purpose is to announce to the faithful the good news of salvation and to express the church’s prayer to the Lord. For this reason it must always express, along with the truths of the faith, the grandeur and holiness of the mysteries which are being celebrated” (VL, No. 39).

The second Instruction, Liturgiam Authenticam (“Authentic Liturgy”), published in 2001, specifically addresses the use of vernacular languages in the liturgy. It offers the church “a new formulation of principles of translation with the benefit of more than 30 years’ experience in the use of the vernacular in liturgical celebrations” (CDWDS).

In a relatively few pages it states principles that must be applicable to the several hundred languages currently used in liturgical celebration around the world. These two documents—Varietates Legitimae and Liturgiam Authenticam—have guided the translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal.

Next month I will discuss the nature of the liturgy according to these documents.

To learn more, visit these links:

• summary and introduction to Liturgiam Authenticam: bit.ly/1Q2rtj
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website on the new translation: bit.ly/6DpYy.

If you have questions or comments, e-mail Father Stice at frrandy@dioceseofknoxville.org. Father Stice is the director of the diocesan Worship and Liturgy Office. This article first appeared in the Oct. 11, 2009, edition of The East Tennessee Catholic.